Foley & Mansfield founding partner dies at 55

Stephen Foley, a founding partner of Minneapolis-based law firm Foley & Mansfield, died Saturday at the age of 55.

Foley died at home and surrounded by family after a long fight with cancer, his law firm said in a news release. He tried more than 50 jury trials, representing insurers and their customers in complex product liability cases, toxic chemical exposure lawsuits and commercial litigation. His firm listed a billion-dollar insurance coverage fight over silicone breast implants, multimillion-dollar fire cases and asbestos cases among his key victories.

He co-founded the law firm with Kyle Mansfield in 1989. He built the firm's core Minneapolis practice and the toxic exposure lawsuit defense operations in California. Foley & Mansfield now has offices in Chicago; Detroit; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Los Angeles; Miami; New York City; Oakland, St. Louis; and Seattle.

“Steve was a brilliant strategist, a daunting opponent, a strong role model to numerous young attorneys and a brilliant friend to all who had the privilege to know and work with him,” Mansfield said in a statement. “His keen wit, intelligence, drive and vision has been key to the development of our firm’s culture and continued success these past 25 years.”

Foley also was an avid golfer and cyclist and co-founded the Foley & Mansfield Charitable Foundation.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn; children Lindsey, Kaitlyn and Dylan; brothers William, Michael and John; sister, Liz; and extended family.

A 10:30 a.m. Thursday funeral mass is scheduled at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Wayzata (630 Wayzata Blvd. E.). The law firm's offices will be closed that day.